The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493247
2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 30 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2023 BY EJ HOLLAND Semaj Morgan and his parents hopped in their car and made the near-nine-hour drive from Detroit to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for a travel 7-on-7 tournament last win- ter. After helping lead his team to the title, Morgan jumped right back in the car for a three-hour drive south to compete at the Under Armour Atlanta camp. The three-star wide receiver from West Bloomfield (Mich.) High could have re- turned home on the team bus. Instead, he wanted to go against the very best in the Southeast, a part of the country that gets more exposure than the Midwest by a significant margin. While the travel may seem daunting to some, weekends like these were consid- ered normal by the Morgan family. Before the wide receiver had any offers, he at- tended any event he could find. And that really didn't stop even after he commit- ted to Michigan. Morgan has a chip on his shoulder the size of the Great Lakes. "We really had to work to get to where we are," Morgan said. "My family put in a lot of work. Some kids get offers because of where they are from or who they know. I had to get it out of the mud and become a diamond. "My work ethic is so big and strong. I feel like nothing can stop me from going In-State Receiver Semaj Morgan Arrived At His 'Dream School' With Relentless Drive Morgan was an all-state selection as a senior after earning all-region honors in both his sophomore and junior campaigns. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND STATISTICS Year Rec. Yds. TD 2022 43 733 14 2021 61 1,015 13 HONORS • Participated in the U.S. Army All-Ameri- can Bowl. • Named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team as a senior. • Received the Legacy Football Iron Man Award after his team's 47-7 win in the 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic. • All-state selection (Detroit Free Press) in 2021. • All-region wide receiver as a junior in 2021 and as a sophomore in 2020. • Part of the Lakers' 2020 Michigan Divi- sion 1 championship team that finished 11-1 in 2020 for the program's first-ever state title. • Helped lead West Bloomfield to a 29-5 overall record in his three years as a varsity player. • Part of a 10-2 season his junior year; finished 8-2 as a senior. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on Dec. 1, 2021, after receiving offer in June 2021. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Ole Miss, Maryland and Purdue. • Recruited by U-M receivers coach Ron Bellamy and offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore. SEMAJ MORGAN WIDE RECEIVER 5-11 • 180 WEST BLOOMFIELD HIGH WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 518 76 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 140 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 62 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 93 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 64 10 consensus • An early enrollee at U-M. • High school teammate of fellow early enrollee Amir Herring and U-M rising junior Donovan Edwards. • Earned snaps all over the field for the Lakers as a senior in 2022, playing wide receiver and quarterback on offense, safety on defense, and handling kick and punt return duties; threw for 5 TDs and no interceptions in one start and additional spot duty at quarterback. • Responsible for 25 total TDs as a senior (14 receiving, 5 passing, 1 rushing, 2 intercep- tion returns, 1 fumble return and 2 kickoff returns); his lone rushing TD came on a 92-yard run. • His senior year on defense, recorded 3 interceptions, returning 2 for touchdowns (including a 101-yarder) and one scoop-and- score fumble recovery. • Played offense, defense and special teams in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl; had an interception return called back on a roughing- the-passer penalty. • Also lettered in basketball and track and field (sprints, long jumps). • Son of Semaj and Erika Morgan. • Born May 6, 2005. DID YOU KNOW?